The Prairie Color Project Kit

A seed-to-felt creative engagement program for groups of 4

The Prairie Color Project is a hands-on creative engagement kit that connects gardening, natural dyeing, sheep, wool, needle felting, storytelling, and community.

Designed for small groups of 4 participants, this multi-session project begins with painting and planting handmade seed paper to grow a dye garden. Over time, participants observe the plants, explore natural color, learn about wool, dye pre-mordanted wool with plant materials, and use that wool to create a finished needle felted artwork.

This kit is ideal for care centers, schools, libraries, intergenerational programs, community groups, homeschool families, and anyone looking for a meaningful hands-on project that can be enjoyed over several weeks or months.

What Makes This Project Special

The Prairie Color Project is more than a craft kit. It encourages creativity, sensory engagement, memory sharing, fine motor activity, social connection, and intergenerational learning.

Older adults may be reminded of gardens, farms, sheep, wool, handmade items, and traditional skills. Children and younger participants have the opportunity to hear those stories while creating something together.

Each Kit Includes

Each kit is designed for 4 participants and includes:

• Seed paper pack with 12 paintable handmade dye garden shapes
• 3D printed felting shape guides
• 4 wool felt coasters
• 2 ounces pre-mordanted carded wool
• 6 felting needles
• 4 Foam felting cushions
• Raw wool and washed wool samples
• Printed lesson booklet and handouts

Activity Directors or Group Leaders Provide

• Water
• Watercolors
• Garden space, planter, or pot
• Soil
• Basic gardening tools
• Pots for dyeing
• Heat source
• Strainer
• Spoons
• Towels
• Optional grocery store dye materials if garden plants are not ready

Project Sessions

The included lesson booklet guides participants through the full seed-to-felt journey:

1. Paint and plant seed paper
2. Care for and observe the garden
3. Explore sheep, wool, and farm memories
4. Learn about natural color and plant use
5. Experiment with red cabbage color chemistry
6. Dye wool with plant materials
7. Create felted wool art
8. Celebrate and share stories

Each session is designed for approximately 45 minutes and may be completed as a full series or adapted into individual activities.

Best For

• Nursing homes and assisted living communities
• Schools and homeschool groups
• Libraries
• Senior centers
• Intergenerational programs
• Community art programs
• Families wanting a meaningful long-term project

Notes

This kit is designed as a guided group project. The lesson booklet refers to specific materials included in the kit, including seed paper, pre-mordanted wool, wool coasters, felting needles, foam cushion, and felting shape guides.

Adult supervision is recommended when children are using felting needles.